Flint mayor resigns

Williamson, who faced recall, cites health as reason for leaving.

Williamson, who faced recall, cites health as reason for leaving.

February 10, 2009

FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- Mayor Don Williamson resigned Monday, only weeks before he was to face a recall election over his representation of the struggling city's finances. Williamson, 75, said he was retiring for health reasons, including recurring kidney stones and sinus infections. His resignation takes effect Sunday. Williamson did not take questions from the media after announcing he was leaving office. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from Williamson Monday afternoon. Williamson, a Democrat, announced last year he planned to run for governor of Michigan in 2010. It was not immediately clear how his announcement Monday will affect that race. Williamson is a millionaire who received a token $1 salary as mayor. He first was elected to the job in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. "In my political life, I received the greatest honor of all, the trust and respect that the voters of this great city placed in me when they elected me mayor," Williamson said. City Administrator Mike Brown, who just recently was hired, becomes acting mayor when Williamson leaves office. Voters will choose a new mayor with a primary in May and a general election in August. Flint, like many other cities in Michigan, has suffered from declining or stagnant tax revenues because of the poor economy. Flint's unemployment rate was listed at 21 percent in December, nearly twice as high as the Michigan average. Flint, located about 50 miles northwest of Detroit, has been hammered by the loss of automotive, manufacturing and related jobs over the past few decades. Flint was listed as Michigan's fourth-largest city in the 2000 Census with nearly 125,000 residents. Estimated population had dropped below 115,000 as of 2007. The recall election, which had been scheduled for Feb. 24, stemmed from claims Williamson mismanaged city funds and violated the public trust by misrepresenting the city's finances. Recall supporters also claimed Williamson endangered public safety by proposing the elimination of 59 police officers and nine firefighters. The recall election will be canceled in the wake of Williamson's departure from office. Williamson had sparked some controversy with a style some thought was too confrontational. He recently hired Brown and appointed a new interim police chief as part of a shake-up at City Hall. City Councilman Delrico Loyd said it was "time for the foolishness in the city of Flint" to come to an end. "This is good for the city of Flint," Loyd told The Flint Journal. "The musical chairs in his administration, it's time for all of that to be over." City Councilman Ehren Gonzales said he wished Williamson the best and enjoyed working with him. Based on recent history, it's likely too early to say Monday's announcement is the end of Williamson's political career. Flint voters in 2002 recalled then-Mayor Woodrow Stanley because of concerns about city budget deficits and high unemployment. Stanley was elected to the state House last November and recently started a two-year term.